Wrinkles

Wrinkles

People have been searching for the “Fountain of Youth” since the 16th century. Although the discovery of it was accredited to Ponce de Leon, there is no proof of this, and the legend did not come about until after his death.

However, that does not stop people from visiting St. Augustine, Florida, home of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth National Park.

While this is, of course, not the real fountain of youth, people still drink from it’s waters, which speaks volumes about how important it is to society to stay looking young and beautiful.

While the imaginary “Fountain of Youth” may not truly grant eternal youth, there are many options for the modern woman including homemade, natural remedies and their synthetic counterparts, and for the lucky few who can afford it, plastic surgery.

However, as with any endeavor, there are risks to be taken when delving into certain anti aging procedures such as chemical peels, botox injections, and going under the knife. Prevention is really the best way to start when talking about anti aging products and getting rid of wrinkles, so here are a few tips for heading those wrinkles off before they get a chance to set in.

Prevention

Don’t Smoke- Smoking is the number one cause of early aging in women today. Not only does it fill your body with toxins, it also causes wrinkles to form around the lips and corners of the mouth from constantly pursing your lips around a cigarette. Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen throughout your body, which leads to a gray and sallow complexion. People who have never smoked, or have quit smoking look and feel younger than those who never started.

Cut down on alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption is another way to age a person beyond their years. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and over a long period of time, the skin will become shriveled in appearance, and more prone to wrinkles.

Often times, smoking and drinking seem to go hand in hand, and years spent in smoky environments will eventually take their toll on your skin. Reducing alcohol consumption to a glass of wine a night, or it’s equivalent, will work wonders for your overall health, well being, and appearance.

Stay out of the sun

Staying out of the sun is the best thing that you can do to protect your skin from becoming wrinkled. While getting a tan might look good for the moment, all the sun does is dry out your skin over and over again, causing it to become like leather as you age.

Always apply sun block when leaving the house, and take extra precautions like wearing sunglasses so that you are not constantly squinting at the sun, which will encourage fine lines around your eyes. Remember to put sunblock on your hands as well, as age spots on the hands, are an indicator of age no matter how smooth your face is.

Avoid stress

Stress is perhaps the #1 unseen killer today. Stress could very well age you faster than all of the factors already mentioned. People who are under a lot of stress tend to have neck, back, and shoulder pain, which stops them from enjoying life the way that they used to.

There really is some truth to the old saying that if you feel young, you look young. While there are many things that are going to be discussed in this article to slow down the aging process, at some point wrinkles will set in, and it is much better to have laugh lines, rather than those of a frown.

Get moving

Exercise is another way of slowing the aging process. Not only does it keep you physically fit, it reduces stress by getting your endorphins going, which will send out signals to your brain to be happy and relaxed. Exercise is also a good time for meditation and/or to connect with yourself, which will also reduce the stress in your life.

While prevention is the best way to remain looking young and wrinkle free, this does not mean that there is nothing that can be done to turn back the hands of time. There are a wide variety of creams, lotions, serums, and scrubs on the market today that are targeted towards that end. The trick is to know what the ingredients are in these products, and if they really work.

Skin Care Products

Every skin care line on the market today will suggest waiting “at least 2 weeks before seeing results”. While this may be true, it gives skin care companies quite a bit of leeway as to the quality of what they are using in their products.

Many of the ingredients found in the most popular skin care labels contain harmful/toxic ingredients that can cause skin irritation, dermatitis, and can also inhibit skin cell growth, which is essential to maintaining a youthful appearance.

This is why it is very important to read the product label before you buy a skin care product. With all the anti aging products on the market today, it may be difficult to know which ones are harmful as a whole, so here is a list of toxic/Toxic ingredients to look for in a skin care product.

Harmful/Toxic Ingredients

Petrolatum Products- Common petrolatum derivatives are mineral oil and paraffin. These leave a plastic like coating over your skin, which allows toxins to build up, and can eventually disrupt hormonal activity.

Parabens – Parabens are used as preservatives and ultimately mimic estrogen, which disrupts hormonal balance in the body.

Propylene Glycol– Propylene Glycol while used as carrier oil for fragrance opals and as humectants in skin care lines, has also been found in paint; break fluid, and floor wax. It can cause inhibitive skin cell growth, dermatitis, skin irritation, and in severe cases kidney and liver damage.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate– Also known as Sodium laurel or Laurel Sulfate, this chemical is widely used in skin care products because of it’s ability to easily penetrate the skin, and break down other products making it easier for them to pass through the protective barrier of the skin.

In combination with other chemicals, it can cause hair loss. Along with Propylene Glycol, this is another chemical known to be used for industrial purposes, and can be found in engine degreasers and car shampoos.

Toulene – Also known as benzine/benzyl, this is a well-known poison that can be harmful or fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.

While this list may seem daunting, there is a website called Skin Deep that has a list of products that are broken down by brand that gives them a score as to how harmful they are to your skin. It is very user friendly, and you can simply type in your favorite brand of moisturizer to see what kind of score it gets.

While you may be surprised at how many reputable skin care lines receive a high score as far as containing harmful products, rest assured that there have been great strides made in the Natural/Organic world of skin care. Actually, the modern world is just now realizing what people of old have known for hundreds of years. Natural oils that are derived from plants and herbs are much closer to fitting the oils that our bodies produce naturally.

Although there are products that are on the market today that are produced in the laboratory which will be discussed along with the natural oils, it seems that some of nature’s ways that have stood the test of time might be the better choice in anti-aging products, but that is your decision to make. Here is a list of oils, and products that are considered safe for your health and well being.

Safe Non Toxic Products For Your Skin

Cynergy TK– this is a new product that is said to stimulate the regrowth of your own collagen and elastin, which leads to fewer wrinkles, and a more youthful appearance.

CQ10– while the benefits of CQ10 have long been known among the medical and cosmetic field, there is a form of it that is much better for anti aging purposes.

When looking at a skin care product label, look for Nano Lipobelle H-EQ10. This form of CQ10 is said to be able to penetrate 7 layers of skin.

Hyaluronic acid- Hyaluronic acid is literally the “glue” that holds together the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin. Loss of this acid leads to dark circles and loss of a youthful appearance.HA is naturally occurring in the body, but decreases with age in most individuals. While it can be found in many anti aging products, it is recommended that it also be taken in supplement form, so that it can work from the inside out.

Phytessence Wakame-This is exotic kelp, which is native to the Japanese sea. This is helpful to your anti aging routine because it blocks an n enzyme called hyaluronase, which breaks down hyaluronic acid.

Coconut oil– Coconut oil has been known for centuries for it’s moisturizing abilities. It also very close in structure to sebum, the oil that our bodies produce naturally. For this reason, coconut oil is absorbed easily into the skin, and a little bit goes a very long way. Not only is it good for skin care, but is also considered a healthy fat.

Olive oil– Olive oil is another oil that has been used for hundreds of years for it’s healing, moisturizing, and heath benefits when used for cooking. Olive oil is a very versatile product that can be mixed with other natural ingredients in your home to make skin scrubs, hot oil treatments, and a multitude of other home remedies.

Jojoba oil– Jojoba oil is just as effective as coconut and olive oil, and can be used in the same way as olive oil to make homemade beauty treatments.

Vitamin C – Along with its cold fighting properties, Vitamin is an anti- oxidant that promotes collagen production and helps to recycle Vitamin E. When used in skin care products Vitamin C promotes less wrinkles, tougher skin, and an all around smoother complexion. Not only that, but it also repairs skin that has been damaged by UV rays and smoking. Some people have reported that Vitamin C can cause some stinging and irritation when applied to the face.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E is still one of the best things you can apply to your skin for wrinkle control. When applied regularly it will lend a youthful and wrinkle free look to your face. There have been reports of red and swollen skin when using Vitamin E regularly, but this is rare.

Aloe Vera– Known for it’s healing properties, Aloe Vera is also very good for tightening the skin, and when mixed together with Vitamin E in equal parts, you have a double duty anti aging cream that will soften as well as tighten your face. Although this is a very good eye cream, care should be taken not to get it in the eyes.

Royal Jelly– Royal Jelly is what the queen bee eats to survive and is reportedly the one of the most nutritious things you can eat. Whether applied topically to your skin, or taken in supplement form Royal Jelly is definitely a force to be dealt with in the anti aging scene. People who have known allergies to bees should not consume royal jelly as paralysis or even death could occur. If you do not know if you are allergic to bees, you may want to consult with your doctor for an allergy test before consuming Royal Jelly.

Alpha Lipoic Acid – Alpha Lipoic Acid is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant, which acts as a defoliant, and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Another benefit of using this product is that it has a protective effect on Vitamin C and E, which encourages regeneration of the cells. Common side effects are inflammation.

While this is a very comprehensive list of anti aging products that are on the market today, this is really just the tip of the iceberg. Modern technology is striving every day to come up with new ways to help people stay looking younger, longer.

However, as the old saying goes, beauty is not only skin deep. Many times, what you see reflected in the mirror is a result of what you have been putting in your body. Good nutrition is essential in maintaining a youthful, healthy appearance. Staying away fro overly processed, prepacked foods that are filled with preservatives and saturated fat is not only unhealthy for your heart, but when you are not healthy it shows in your face.

Eating Vegetables

Eating green leafy vegetables such as fresh spinach and collard greens are essential for a healthy diet, as well as eating fresh fruit. While eating red meat in moderation is acceptable, fish is a much better source oh Omega 3 fatty acids, which lead to all around whole body health. Also, the great debate about eggs is finally over. What people have known for generations is true; eggs are full of protein, and with one egg healthy to consume or not.

Cosmetic Surgery

While many people cannot afford the luxury, cosmetic procedures such as botox injections, chemical peels, and plastic surgery cannot be left out of the anti aging scene. Unfortunately, though it seems that there are more risks than benefits when it comes to these kind of medical procedures.

Whether the doctors or the patients are to blame is a purely a case by case debate, the effects of plastic surgery gone wrong can be scary. Many times, it almost becomes an addiction for some people who are aspiring to get the “perfect” appearance, only to come out years later looking like a parody of themselves.

Other times, people have gone in thinking they could trust their doctor, and found out differently after it was too late. Cosmetic surgery can definitely be a benefit to women who want to get a face lift, or repair sagging eyelids, but it is very important to find the right surgeon, and do some research before going under the knife.

Word of mouth is still the best advertisement, and when looking for a surgeon to work on your most precious asset, it might be best to try to find someone that you know you can trust.

Considering Your Options

Whatever route you choose to take with anti aging creams and potions, remember that only you can decide what is best for you.. Before investing in the latest “miracle” cream, do some research, and see what it is all about.

Or go to the drug store, and try some of the samples that they have out. Also, never doubt the power of some of the natural remedies mentioned in this article, because centuries of women cannot be wrong. Above all else, remember that looking young has a lot to do with feeling young, so have fun on your quest for the best wrinkle cream out there, or try making one at home.

The possibilities are endless as long you feel good about yourself, and reading this article is a step in the right direction. Now, just get out there get moving, and see what the world has to offer!